Identification of root bacteria associated with different stripe rust resistance in wheat cultivars

The plant rhizosphere bacterial community influences plant stress resistance. Stripe rust causes severe damage to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production. To reveal the composition and function of root bacterial communities in wheat cultivars with different stripe rust resistance, rhizosphere soil samples were collected from four wheat cultivars. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to study the rhizobacterial community structure and function in stripe rust-resistant (Guinong 19 and Huamai 1223) and -susceptible (Mingxian 169 and Taichung 29) wheat cultivars. A total of 6,392 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected, belonging to 29 bacterial phyla. Analysis showed the susceptible and resistant wheat cultivars had different microbial communities. Principal coordinate analysis showed that all wheat rhizosphere bacterial samples could be divided into two groups, according to different disease resistance. Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis showed that different bacterial taxa were enriched in the rhizosphere soil between resistant and susceptible wheat cultivars. Functional analysis showed that the bacterial community in stripe rust-resistant wheat had greater amino acid transport and metabolic functions. Our research not only provides basic knowledge of the composition of wheat-related microbiota but also reveals the microbial taxa that could be integrated into the management strategy of wheat stripe rust.